You just know this guy is itching to get with the times, right?
Nintendo boss Saturo Iwata has admitted the company is considering "a new business structure," which may involve branching out into the mobile arena it has shunned for so long.
After the company revised its 2014 Wii U sales forecast from 9 million to an unspectacular 2.9 million, the CEO suggested that it may be time for a change.
With Wii U games sales new predicted to hit just 19 million units, rather than the previously estimated 38 million, Iwata seemed to indicate that change could be on the horizon.
"We are thinking about a new business structure," Iwata told a news conference in Japan, while hinting the company is exploring the possibility of touchscreen handheld devices.
Studying...
Nintendo has long dismissed the possibility of launching versions of popular franchises like Mario, Zelda and Donkey Kong on smartphones and tablets, largely through fears of watering down its top earners.
Now, with the company expected to post an annual lost of 35bn yen ($335m / £205m), Nintendo may finally ready to relent and answer the clamour for Mario and Link on iPhone, judging by Iwata's forlorn comments
"Given the expansion of smart devices, we are naturally studying how smart devices can be used to grow the game-player business. It's not as simple as enabling Mario to move on a smartphone," he said.
Could sharing Mario with a wider audience put Nintendo back in the spotlight? Or would opening up it's famous franchises beyond Nintendo hardware be an admission that Nintendo's on the way to becoming the next Sega? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
LG could have a big first half of 2014 ahead of it
The LG G3 release date will arrive in May, says a new report.
The Korean site asiae.co.kr has reportedly heard from "industry sources" that the G3 will arrive in May, earlier in the year than its predecessor the LG G2, which dropped in September 2013.
This could offset other releases as well, such as the successor to the Optimus G Pro, which launched in April 2013.
So why would LG throw its whole schedule out of whack? Reportedly, to make sure the G3 isn't completely buried by Samsung's Galaxy S5.
G-unit
That said, the Galaxy S5 is rumored to be arriving in March, which would still place it months ahead of the G3. So who knows?
Meanwhile, contrary to what common sense might dictate, the Optimus G Pro 2 will apparently launch in February, ahead of the LG G3.
That's according to this same Korean industry source, at least.
Both the Optimus G Pro 2 and the LG G3 will sport 1440 x 2560 resolution screens, said the source. Further, the G3 will supposedly have a QHD display.
Other rumors have claimed the G2 successor will sport LG's new octa-core Odin processor, which could make it something of a behemoth.
According to rumour, Microsoft will give up to $2.6 billion (£1.6 billion, AU$2.9 billion) to OEMs to support building Windows Phone devices. The head of communications at the company, however, is calling that number "complete fiction" in answer.
The rumour had been started by Eldar Murtazin, chief editor of Mobile Review. In a Tweet, he claimed that a few OEMs that were coming back to Windows Phone in 2014 would get wads of cash from Microsoft in exchange. Out of those, Samsung was supposedly taking the lion's share with more than $1 billion (£600 million, AU$1.1 billion) of the payment.
Frank Shaw, Microsoft's head of communications, has come out and called the numbers "complete fiction" in a tweet yesterday. He instead admitted that Microsoft does spend money on OEMs, but in co-promotions. He claims that they're covering OEM's R&D costs and helping them to switch to Microsoft's OS in order to launch new devices.
Behind the scenes
Despite this, there is certainly a strong incentive for Microsoft to pander to OEMs at the moment. Nokia is heading into the sunset, and its current dominance of the Windows Phone market will be transferred back to Microsoft.
A precedent was also set when Nokia received sums of money every quarter for their investment in the platform. Nokia is a premium partner but now that has been done it's not unreasonable to assume Microsoft would try to entice other companies.
The money doesn't have to be cash either. It's likely that this will include discounted or free licensing on the operating system, direct development support and other perks that Microsoft might be giving away.
Even though the company is denying it, there's a strong possibility that behind the scenes cash and promises could be being swapped between Microsoft and OEMs for the future of the Windows Phone.
Chromoting was originally billed as a feature for Chrome OS
A recently spotted message has revealed that Google is working on a "Chromoting" remote desktop app for iOS.
Chromoting is essentially a remote desktop client that will allow users to control their computers from their Android and, it seems, their iOS devices.
The message popped up on Google's developer site for Chromium, the open-source browser that's at the heart of Google Chrome.
It appears to be from one developer to another, discussing the iOS and Android versions of the Chromoting app.
Self-Chromotion
The Chromoting app is related to the Chrome browser's own remote desktop and screen sharing features, which as TechCrunch points out graduated from beta in 2012.
There are plenty of similar services, like LogMeIn and TeamViewer, but Google's is free and works natively with Chrome.
But according to the developer post, the iOS and Android apps are in need of an aesthetic overhaul.
"As noted, the iOS version is very unpolished at this stage," developer Hannah S. wrote. Icons, toolbars and more apparently need to be re-designed and re-organized.
In addition the iOS version is reportedly further behind than the Android version, which will ship first, though no time frame is given.
TechRadar has asked Google to share any additional details about Chromoting, and we'll update this article if we hear anything useful.
Sprint could be getting ready to introduce Wi-Fi calling for two Samsung devices at launch.
According to a training manual obtained by Android Central, Wi-Fi calling and texting will first come to the Samsung Galaxy S4 mini and Galaxy Mega at an unspecified launch. This feature supposedly will be unlocked with a downloaded "maintenance update."
In addition to the two Samsung handsets, new devices running Android 4.2 and above will be able to cash in on Wi-Fi calling.
As the name suggests, Wi-Fi calling allows users to get off the Sprint Network and make VOIP calls and texts at no additional monthly charge. A useful feature when you're running low on minutes or in the basement of a building with no bars and a healthy Wi-Fi connection.
The training manual documents that users enable the feature by visiting http://sprint.com/manage on a compatible device. To turn it off, users can toggle the feature in the settings of "approved" Sprint Android devices.
Fine print
While that's good and all there are still restrictions. Wi-Fi calls will only be supported domestically within the continental United States, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.
Android users will also have to turn on their Location Services in order to ring in over the net. In one last line item, calls started over CDMA can't be switched over to the Wi-Fi channel or vice-versa.
Precious voice minutes
If Sprints Wi-Fi calling really happens, the yellow carrier will join the ranks of T-Mobile and Virgin Wireless.
Virgin is able to serve both Android and iOS handsets through its SmartCall App. Meanwhile, T-Mobile has had free Wi-Fi calling for Android devices since 2010.
Sprint has not released an exact timetable for when it's roll out Wi-Fi calling. But, it has a lot of catching up to do if it can't retroactively enable the feature on older devices.
Apparently hoping to avoid the possibility of crude jokes being made by calling their next-generation handset the number Two, HTC is rumored to be prepping yet another variation of its flagship handset for early 2014.
Bloomberg today reported there could be a new HTC One on the way in the coming weeks which will retain the well-received exterior design but potentially offer some welcome component changes inside.
The most notable change is a screen said to measure "at least five inches," according to an unnamed source familiar with the Taiwanese manufacturer's plans.
Powered by a more recent flavor of Qualcomm's Snapdragon processor, the 2014 HTC One will reportedly be slightly larger than the 4.7-inch display on the current One model, but smaller than the HTC One Max at 5.9 inches.
Wonder twins
One area HTC appears to be targeting for improvement aside from the display is the Ultrapixel camera, which is designed to take higher resolution images with a lower megapixel count.
Bloomberg's source claims HTC is planning to use twin sensors on the rear-facing camera, which "will provide better focus, depth of field and image quality" when it launches in late March.
Despite critical acclaim for last year's HTC One, the smartphone maker has floundered in the market against the might of South Korean rival Samsung, currently the 300-pound gorilla of Android handsets.
HTC may need more than just a refreshed One handset to stave off the competition, as the big-screen HTC One Max failed to make stem the tide of losses in the company's second quarter earnings.
Is Apple's new Mac Pro right for you? Find out in our comprehensive review!
President Barack Obama has called for an overhaul to how the US National Security Agency collects and uses citizens' phone records and an end to eavesdropping on foreign heads of state.
In the second speech addressing the controversial NSA policies that have come to light from documents in the hands of Edward Snowden, Obama said Friday that he's "ordering a transition," one that will end "[the] bulk metadata program as it currently exists and establish a mechanism that preserves the capabilities we need without the government holding this bulk metadata."
He maintained that the NSA's data collection program is an important tool in identifying and preventing terrorist threats. While he hasn't seen any cases of abuse in the agency's phone collection activities, Obama said he recognizes the potential for abuse.
So what will change?
Obama has asked US Attorney General Eric Holder and intelligence officials to hand in a plan by March 28 that outlines how phone record data will change from the hands of the government to a third-party agency.
Who that third-party record keeper will be has not yet been determined.
Starting now, the government will only investigate phone calls "that are two steps removed from a number associated with a terrorist organization instead of the three," the president said.
Also effective immediately, the NSA will need a court order to obtain phone records.
Holder has been asked to reform the use of national security letters, used as a subpoena to obtain business and other records, so that the gag order usually tacked on doesn't last indefinitely.
The president plans to consult Congress on appropriate boundaries for phone records collection, and has tasked the legislative branch with forming a panel of public advocates to represent privacy interests to the FISC.
Looking off shore
Obama also ordered a cease to the eavesdropping on foreign leaders and governments considered friends or allies. In October 2013, German Chancellor Angela Merkel called Obama after information arose the US had tapped her private mobile phone.
Pending a significant national security reason, the US "will not monitor the communications of heads of state and government of our close friends and allies."
Foreign citizens were also granted more privacy protections against NSA surveillance.
The president's speech comes after months of revelations of how the NSA collects and keeps information, raising alarms from those within the US government, global governments, private citizens, the tech community and privacy advocates.
On January 16, new claims arose that the agency indiscriminately gathers up to 200,000,000 text messages daily. The UK's GCHQ reportedly has access to the texts.
While steps forward, Obama's NSA reforms are likely unsatisfying to the agency and government's harshest critics.
As the name suggests is the smallest among the three, features a 4.0" WVGA TFT display and runs on Mediatek MT6572 chipset (dual-core 1.3GHz Cortex-A7, Mali-400 GPU, 1GB RAM). Other notable specs include a 5MP camera, 4GB expandable storage and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean powering the whole thing.
Of course, the smartphone is not so much about fancy chipsets or umpteen megapixel screens and cameras - it's main point of attraction is the price. And the price is really pretty good - the ZTE Blade Q Mini has launched in the UK today and it can be yours for just £59.99. The droid is available exclusively via Virgin Mobile.
There is no information on when other retailers and carriers will be getting the ZTE Blade Q Mini (or if at all for that matter). We are also still in the dark regarding the other Blade Q handsets and their eventual launch in the UK. If you like the Blade Q Mini though, you can find and buy one at Argos or Sainsbury's.
HTC One's successor codenamed M8 and also known as One 2 and Two should launch this March, following an MWC debut in late February. As the rumor has it HTC M8 will be powered by the latest Qualcomm chipset (currently the Snapdragon 805) and will come with a bigger, at least 5", screen of QHD resolution (1440x2560px) display.
The insider reveals even more details about the M8 - HTC will keep using the UltraPixel technology for its new flagship, though the new camera will feature twin UltraPixel sensors. This should improve the auto-focus, image quality, and depth of field. There is no word on the resolution of the two UltraPixel sensors though, nor more details on their exact manner of operation.
If this insider is indeed telling the truth, then HTC will probably announce the One successor at the MWC in Barcelona by the end of February.
We already saw various HTC M8 leaks and rumors. Some leaked benchmark results showed the test M8 device was running on Snapdragon 800, while others suggested it won't be called HTC Two, but One+. We guess we'll know soon enough.
Some code squirreled away somewhere in the Android OS hints that a future version will come with souped up fitness tracking.
While KitKat already features pedometer tech for counting your steps, future versions perhaps beginning with Android 5.0 will allow the software to harness "fitness data from sensors on your Android device."
These could be built into future Android phones and tablets, but it's also likely that the API will play nicely with Android-based smartwatches and even Google Glass.
Get fit quick
A 'more info' pop up says the API should let you "view and edit your fitness tracking, health and activities data" - the fact that it allows both reading and writing of data means that it might store your vital stats on your Google account for access by other apps - you could potentially generate a fitness graph in Google Drive, for instance.
As it's an API, it means that app makers will be able to use more biometric data in their software - alongside the pedometer, they could monitor your heart rate for instance.
It's worth noting that this may not be code intended for Android itself though; it could also be part of a Google Play Services update.
The Huawei Ascend Mate 2saw the light of day a few days ago at the Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas and already has a price on its head. Courtesy of Huawei online shop Vmall the device can be had for CNY2,688, which is the equivalent of around $445.
The device packs a massive 6.1" display of 720p resolution, quad-core 1.6 GHz Hisilicon V9R1, 3G, 2 gigs of RAM, Emotion UI 2.0-ed Android Jelly Bean 4.3 and a 5 MP/13 MP front and back camera capabilities. There's also a quad-core 1.6 GHz Snapdragon 400 variant that packs LTE connectivity but it's for outside of China.
The built in memory is 16 GB but is expandable through an microSD card slot. The Ascend Mate 2 has a nifty trick up its sleeve - a 4,050 mAh battery that not only acts as a main power supply but can also charge external devices.
There's no world on global availability yet but word is Huawei intends to bring the Ascend Mate 2 stateside after it finds local carriers to collaborate with.
You can find our hands-on with the Ascend Mate 2 here.
Two new Micromax phones are headed to the Indian market very soon - the 6" phablet A119 Canvas XL and the peculiar 5" A94 Canvas MAd, which lets you earn money by watching ads.
Micromax A119 Canvas XL features a 6.0-inch qHD TFT display and runs on a quad-core 1.3GHz Cortex-A7 processor. The rest of the specs include an 8MP rear and a 5MP front cameras, dual-SIM support with 3G, Wi-Fi, FM radio with recording, and a 2,450 mAh battery. The Canvas XL has Android 4.2 Jelly Bean in charge of operation and will launch in two days exclusively from HomeShop18.
The retailer will be offering the Canvas XL for INR13,990 (€168) and will be throwing additional accessories (Harris Smith Watch + TPC Sunglasses) worth INR6,498 (€77). The retailer's listing currently says Out of Stock, but you should keep an eye on the page on January 19, when the phone is expected to launch.
Meanwhile Micromax announced another rather unorthodox smartphone - the Micromax A94 Canvas MAd. It's a 4.5" smartphone with a quad-core 1.2GHz processor, dual 5MP cameras and Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. What's interesting about the Canvas MAd is that it comes with pre-loaded special applications which offer various adds. Once you start using those apps to view their ads you'll start accumulating points and eventually you'll be able to exchange those points for real money.
Micromax MAd A94 is available as of today for INR8,490 (€100). You can learn more about how it works (or place an order) right here.
This is hot news for Android lovers in the US - AT&T has slashed the on-contract prices of the Motorola Moto X and LG G2 to null if you sign a two-year commitment.
The deal is available until the end of this month - January 31 - and is saving you $100 on both phones.
While the Moto X's exterior customizations and software enhancements (not to mention its pulling on patriotic strings) earn it favor with Android loyalists in the US, the LG G2 is by far the superior handset with a top-class 5.2" 1080p screen, quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor and capable 13 MP camera.
Then again, the Moto X is closer to stock Android (which many appreciate) and has the more favorable ergonomics, so it's your call in the end.
Know any Nokia fans? Noticed that they seem giddy, like their dreams are finally coming true? It's because the Finns could FINALLY be making an Android handset.
This is bad news.
The NokDroid project has been up and down more than a demented see saw. First, Nokia was developing an Android handset, fulfilling the liquid fantasy of geeks everywhere.
Then the project was off. How could Nokia even consider such a thing? It's (sort of) owned by MICROSOFT for Gawd's sake. And now, it looks like it's back on. I can't keep up with this.
I've never been the biggest fan of Windows Phone. Don't get me wrong. It's very nice. It has tiles. TILES. Who needs widgets? But I personally find it to have too many nuances.
On one side, there's Android, which will let you customise to the hilt. On the other, there's iOS, which will barely let you change more than the wallpaper.
Tell me I'm wrong
Logically, Windows Phone should fall into the gap in the middle. But for me, it doesn't work. Hell, that's me. And I know the vehement fans of said OS will tell me I'm wrong. Go for it.
But despite that opinion, I'm all for competition, so Windows Phone needs to be given a chance. It needs to develop more if it is to become a credible competitor to Apple and Google. And Nokia needs to concentrate its efforts there. Be a master of one trade, not a jack of them all.
How would Windows Phone feel if it had emotions? Like its husband is constantly looking at others to see if they'd be a better partner. That's how.
Nokia is supposed to be the faithful hubby. The company looked like it was on its deathbed until boss Stephen Elop announced that he was flogging the family silver and taking WP as the provider's OS. Which looks like it's paid off, as the company doesn't appear to be on the brink of bankruptcy anymore (partly helped by the billions slung into the coffers by Microsoft).
Cool again
Nokia phones are actually cool devices that many want to own again. That's pretty good in terms of reinvention.
But this apparent renewed interest in just trying to keep another project on the boil seems to be eating away into what should be a 110% commitment to Windows and nothing else.
Just look at the screenshots. Android's beauty is that it can be skinned easily. It can look like anything you like. So what is Nokia doing? It's making an Android UI that looks like Windows! What's the point?! Do you want to confuse your buyers, Nokia? You're going the right way about it.
Is this really Android on Nokia? (credit: evleaks)
By calling it a 'project', it makes it sound all Google Labs. You know, fun. Inventive… cheeky even. But it's not, it's just giving the critics another reason to beat you when it comes to nothing.
You can't hope to become a key player here, Nokia. Samsung, HTC and Google themselves pretty much have Android sewn up. Sony and LG are on the periphery. How are you going to take them on when your dedication is really to Microsoft?
A far better strategy would have been to continue with MeeGo. Geeks worldwide sobbed to themselves when that bit the dust. The only MeeGo handset became a bit of a collector's item.
Going forward with a half hearted attempt makes you look weak. And you're not – you're the bastion of our phone world. Don't go changing!
The iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C might have been launched at the same time, but they're very different beasts in terms of design, spec and, perhaps most importantly, cost. So instead of muddling through on your own, here's our guide to help you decide which one is for you.
Are you design-conscious? Do you need that 64-bit technology? Are you tired of passwords? We've created this guide to highlight the key features of each handset to help you decide which iPhone suits you.
Design
As with every iPhone in existence, both the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C follow very similar design strategies. The screen and the home button are both central to the 'flavour', and both the 5S and the 5C come with the Apple and iPhone logos on the rear.
The 3.5mm headphone jack sits in the lower left corner, with the lightning port in the centre of the base. Volume keys and the lock key are also identically placed on both models. In all, a very similar start, but that's where it ends.
iPhone 5S
Following on from the iPhone 5 before it, the iPhone 5S comes in a metal chassis measuring 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6mm. This makes it larger than the plastic iPhone 5C, which measures 124.4 x 59.2 x 8.97mm. The plastic hasn't made the 5C lighter though, as it comes in 20g heavier than the 5S; 132g to 122g.
This weight is particularly noticeable whilst holding the two phones, although the iPhone 5C manages to feel a little more comfortable. The plastic back wraps around the 5C more than the metal frame of the 5S, resulting in a more pleasing grip.
Apple's svelte design of the 5S does bring a slightly cheaper feel (borne out in the price), with the sharper lines of the iPhone 5S packing a tangibly more premium punch.
The iPhone 5C would look a little strange in the stiff working environment, but far more comfortable in the hands of a teen or young adult.
According to Apple, the C in iPhone 5C is meant to stand for colour, with five different colours available; green, blue, yellow, pink and white. The bright colours and plastic chassis give the iPhone 5C a cheaper feel - it certainly wouldn't feel out of place in a ball pit.
iPhone 5C
The metal chassis of the iPhone 5S comes in either 'space grey' and black, gold and white, or silver and white. These help give the 5S a far more premium look and feel. The redesigned home button (to incorporate Touch ID) is also a nice touch with the lack of white square giving the front of the 5S a smoother, more professional look.
While we really like the design of the iPhone 5C, it doesn't quite meet the same standards of the iPhone 5S. The plastic casing does result in a cheaper price tag, but the metal casing of the 5S matches its higher cost better than the 5C.
Camera
In terms of camera performance, the iPhone 5C and the iPhone 5S come with identical forward-facing sensors. This means that for those heavily invested in the likes of Snapchat, or enjoy posting selfies to Facebook or Instagram, both handsets have you equally covered.
The difference in cameras is exclusive to the rear sensor, although both come with 8MP to capture those candid, and less so, moments.
Differences in the cameras lie deeper than just the amount of pixels that have been crammed into the sensor though. The size of the pixels on each sensor has changed, with the iPhone 5S commanding larger pixels and therefore allowing more light in.
The iPhone 5S also comes with optical image stabilisation (OIS), helping to make images come out clearer, especially in low light conditions. Minor blurring associated with slight hand movements has been lowered as a result, if not eradicated.
Upgrades have also made over to the flash, with the iPhone 5S being fitted with a dual-LED offering to make night time shots brighter and clearer, as well as bring a more natural tone to shots. This puts it above the iPhone 5C that comes with only a single LED light.
In order to highlight the differences in cameras, we've taken a variety of shots so you can compare them side by side.
The larger pixel size is immediately obvious, with the image taken by the iPhone 5S coming out a lot brighter than on the 5C. More detail is also noticeable on the image taken by the 5S, with more colour appearing in the sky.
Contrast is slightly higher on the 5S rather than the iPhone 5C, with markings in the paint work being more prominent, and water droplets also showing up better. Zoomed in, text also comes out clearer on the 5S.
The same differences found in the postbox images are also found in the images of the cathedral. It is clear that there is more detail in the brick work, and the contrast level is a lot higher. Zoomed in, edges of the building are a lot crisper.
Throughout our flash photography we found that the iPhone 5S generally produced more in focus shots, thanks to the dual-LED flash that sits next to the camera and improved processor speeds. When comparing photos there is a slight difference, although it's not as huge as you might think.
The larger pixels in the iPhone 5S come into play in darker scenes, allowing a lot more light to hit the sensor. This allows the 5S to produce a brighter image, with far more detail being captured; it is possible to make out brick work on the building opposite in the image taken by the 5S, but not the 5C. Light streaks are also largely eliminated.
Performance
A lot of the talk surrounding the upgrade of the iPhone 5S from the iPhone 5 was the inclusion of the new A7 chip, bringing across a laptop-esque 64-bit architecture. Right now this means very little, but as time goes by and as apps are optimised to suit the newer chip, expect to see bigger and faster apps.
The iPhone 5C keeps the same chip that is found in the older iPhone 5. This follows a more standard chipset, although one that is expected to be replaced by 64 and eventually 128-bit chips in flagship models. Even Qualcomm have recently launched the budget Snapdragon 410 64-bit chip.
This should mean that iPhone 5S comes with a greater life span, as it will be able to run the bigger and more demanding apps that we are likely to see in the future.
Flicking through the home screens and the differences in terms of speeds aren't all that noticeable, but for everything else there is a definite disparity. Web browsing, gaming and downloading is a lot faster on the 5S.
We noticed that apps needed updating on both handsets, and the iPhone 5S managed to download four apps before the 5C had downloaded two. A check of the app sizes even showed that it wasn't due to the file size, as the iPhone 5S had downloaded larger files.
Web browsing over Wi-Fi was a lot faster too. There may have only been a slight delay in loading basic mobile sites, but the delay was a second or two when browsing full mobile sites. Gaming was also faster on the 5S.
Loading Sonic Dash on the iPhone 5C was considerably slower than the 5S; we had already started gaming on the 5S by the time the load screen had disappeared on the 5C. Anybody with the 5C won't feel too let down by their handset, until a 5S-toting friend turns up.
Taking it down to brass tacks, and in the benchmark testing you can see that the 5S is streets ahead of its cheaper rival, scoring 2557 in real world testing compared to the 1282 of the 5C. This won't matter if you're only going to be idly checking web and email, but over time you'll likely yearn for a little more power.
Storage and Touch ID
Internal storage is relatively similar on both the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C. Both come with 16GB and 32GB models, although the 64GB model is only available on the 5S.
Given that Apple has never supported additional storage through the likes of microSD, storage is a hotter topic on iPhones than it is on most other handsets - although many are now following Apple's lead.
We're getting more and more conscious of just how much storage is needed on handsets, but Apple has always given the iPhone a very heavy media slant, starting life as a combination of the iPod and a standard mobile phone.
If you're like us, you'll have a rather hefty catalogue of music and HD movies that you'll want to pop onto your new iPhone, as well as a range of gaming and productivity apps. This means that the smaller storage option can often be left feeling a little wanting.
The 32GB option is a rather nice compromise, and should provide enough storage to last a typical two year contract. For those with really hefty media libraries, or those that are heavily into mobile gaming, the 64GB found only on the iPhone 5S is a must.
It isn't just the massive storage that is reserved for the iPhone 5S, with Apple also reserving one of its other innovations for the 5S. For those that haven't heard, Touch ID is a capacitive finger print scanner built into the home button.
Building the scanner into the home button was a stroke of genius, allowing swift and easy unlocking, saving the few seconds that it takes to input a pass code. It can also be used to safeguard iTunes purchases, so lending your iPhone 5S to someone won't result in a hefty bank statement.
Having this technology built into the 5S is part of the reason that it commands a higher price tag. We can see it being a fantastically helpful feature for parents that loan their iPhone to their kids, and for those that are very privacy conscious.
It is also a feature that has yet to take off widely, although it comes (rather awkwardly placed) on the HTC One Max and is rumoured to appear on the Samsung Galaxy S5.
Price
With all the extra features that we have mentioned so far, from the A7 and M7 chip to Touch ID and the metal chassis, the iPhone 5S was always going to command a higher price. It currently retails SIM free for £549, £629 and £709 for the 16, 32 and 64GB versions respectively.
This puts it at £80 more expensive than the SIM free iPhone 5C equivalents; the 5C is available for £469 for the 16GB variant and £549 for 32GB.
SIM free, this does also put the 32GB iPhone 5C on the same pricing structure as the 16GB iPhone 5S.
We can envisage there being a few occasions where both models are being weighed up, choosing whether or not to opt for the larger storage on the 5C for the same price as the smaller 5S. In reality though, this isn't really a question that should be asked too often.
If storage is that important, and we can see that really being the case, we'd advise going for the larger storage on the iPhone 5S. The added storage and the extra features make the larger 5S better value all round... as long as your heart's set on an iPhone, that is.
Verdict
We ended this by asking Siri which handset it thought was the best, and it told us to make our own minds up.
If you've read this and are now left thinking that out of the two handsets we would opt for the iPhone 5S over the iPhone 5C...you'd be right.
Having used the two together, sat often side by side, it is immediately clear which of the two Apple handsets is superior. Be it the sleeker, more industrial design, the lighter weight or the fancy Touch ID technology, the iPhone 5S beats the 5C every time.
It is a little disappointing that we've had to say this, because the iPhone 5C is, in its own right, a very nice and very capable device. Anybody that has purchased one, or is thinking about purchasing one won't be left disappointed by what the 5C has to offer.
In all, the iPhone 5S brings a lot of features to market that make it more pleasant to use than its lower spec-ed brother. We can't help but feel that the appeal of the 5C is limited, with playground politics meaning that 5S will always bring more appeal - and for the money, there's not a lot of difference in price between the two devices.
However, that doesn't mean that the 5C is without charm. It's got a strong and unique design and does give a lower entry point for an iPhone user. It may be a rebadged iPhone 5, but that's no bad thing. We would always recommend you look at the 5S if you're buying the C, and beseech you to save a little more as the gap between the two is so vast.
Panasonic will apparently re-enter the smartphone market for a second time at MWC 2014 as fresh reports suggest the firm is working on a new, rugged handset.
According to Japanese site Asahi it won't be gone for long, as reports now point towards a shock proof handset being readied for the Barcelona show at the end of February.
When the going gets tough
There's not a huge amount of detail on the mystery Panasonic smartphone, but the unnamed sources do reveal that it will sport a 5-inch screen.
Apparently Panasonic is targeting users such as construction site workers for its next handset, suggesting that this may not be a particularly mainstream device.
TechRadar will be out in force at MWC 2014 to bring you all the latest from the show, including any possible return to form from Panasonic.
Lava has launched a new line of smartphones under the theme of "Art meets Smart". The Lava Iris Pro 30 is the first in the family and the company's new flagship. The Android smartphone measures only 7.5mm thick and weighs just 114g, which was achieved in part thanks to the slim 4.7" IPS LCD from Sharp.
The screen has 720p resolution (312ppi) and puts out 500 lumens of brightness. It's a "One Glass Solution," meaning the Gorilla Glass is laminated making the assembly thinner. The phone uses Content Adaptive Backlight Control, which Lava says, results in 30% better battery life.
The battery is fairly thin too and packs 2,000mAh capacity. The device weighs 114g in total. It's not the thinnest or lightest smartphone ever, but the ones compact as this one are quite rare.
Lava Iris Pro 30
Anyway, the Lava Iris Pro 30 runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean on a quad-core 1.2GHz processor and PowerVR SGX544 GPU (we're guessing a MediaTek chipset, so Cortex-A7 CPU cores). The phone is USB OTG enabled, and features voice and face unlocking, gestures like flip to mute and lift to answer/call.
The main camera uses an 8MP BSI sensor and dual-LED flash. It can record 1080p video and shoot panoramas. There's a 3MP front-facing camera, too.
The Lava Iris Pro will cost INR 16,000 in India ($260, €190) and Lava points out that with quad-band support, the phone will work in the Americas, Asia and Europe. What the company doesn’t say is if it will actually bring the Iris Pro 30 to those markets.
The smartphone adoption in the US market is growing and two companies are coming out the big winners out of it – Apple and Samsung together hold over 60% of the market in the last quarter of last year, up from 52% in the final quarter of 2012.
It's a one sided matchup, however, as Apple alone holds 42% market share, a large increase from the 35% share it had in Q4 2012. Samsung is doing well for itself too, going from 22% in Q4 '12 to 26% in Q4 '13.
LG saw a small increase in its share but still controls under 10% of the market. The NPD Group, which prepared the market share report, doesn’t go into details of how much this is due to the company's Nexus involvement (LG build both the Nexus 4 and 5).
While the Google-branded Nexus may have helped LG, the Google ownership of Motorola did not and the company went from over 10% market share to about equal with LG. All other companies declined.
HTC experienced a sharp drop in a year, though not as sharp as BlackBerry, which got its share almost completely evaporated. Even the makers collectively market as "Other" in the report have declined, which points to a homogenization of the market – Apple in front, with Samsung as a distant second.
What US users do with all those smartphones is use more and more data apparently. The average data usage per month went up to 6.6GB (from 5.5GB in Q4 2012). Half of smartphone owners now use some form of music streaming (up from around 40%).
Top 5 Music Apps Used on Smart Phones (Q4 2013)
1
Pandora
2
iHeart Radio
3
Spotify
4
TuneIn Radio
5
Slacker Radio
Source: The NPD Group/Connected Intelligence, Smartphone Usage Report
Pandora was the most popular streaming service, with iHeart Radio coming in second. With growing adoption, it's no surprise that more and more companies are trying to get into the streaming market, like Beats Music.
As if we needed more proof that the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo launch is fast approaching. After getting its detailed specs through an internal document and then seeing what it looks like in the flesh through a bunch of live photos, we're now seeing the upcoming phablet pass through FCC.
The US regulatory has approved the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo, meaning there's nothing preventing the handset from launching in the local market. Given that manufacturers rarely have units good enough for testing too long before the actual announcement, this suggests the development is virtually complete and the phablet will hit officialdom very soon.
Earlier rumors pointed to an MWC launch, but that's still over a month away. In light of the FCC certification, the Samsung Forum closed event, which starts in just 11 days, is also a candidate for the debut of the first hexa-core handset. Now long until we know for sure.
The ZTE Blade Q Mini has been officially launched in the UK, exclusively on Virgin Media, as the Chinese brand looks to snaffle the first time smartphone user market.
Setting you back just £59.99, the Blade Q Mini is one of the most affordable smartphones on the market, and while the specs won't blow you away, they certainly don't look too shoddy for the price.
The Blade Q Mini sports a 4-inch 480 x 800 display, 1.3GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, 5MP rear camera and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.
All good on paper
On paper at least the Blade Q Mini is going toe-to-toe with handsets more than double its price - with the likes of the Sony Xperia M and HTC Desire 500 for company.
You also get a 1500mAh battery, microSD slot, Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth 4.0 and a FM radio in the 125.5 x 63.9 x 9mm chassis.
As well as Virgin Media, the ZTE Blade Q Mini is also available in Sainsbury's and Argos from today.
Everything sounds promising then for the Blade Q Mini but some of the previous ZTE handsets we've used have been let down by a poor user experience, so keep an eye out for our Blade Q Mini review to see how this one fares.
